Labeling machine



Aug. 29, 1944. H, NEFZGER 12,356,875

LABELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR hQA/s 'A. MEFZBE/i ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1944. t H. A. NEFZGER LABELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mull.

a. WK '4 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 29, 1944 LABELING MACHINE Hans A. Nefzger, Hackensack, N. J., assignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 6, 1943, Serial No. 509,167

4 Claims.

The invention relates to labeling machines and more particularly to labelin machines of the type disclosed in the von I-Iofe United States Patent No. 2,227,816 of January 7, 1941.

Labeling machines of the type indicated are designed for labeling articles of varying classes and dimensions and are adapted for applying labels to small articles as exemplified by conventional ampules. The latter being relatively small and of comparatively little weight are easily disturbed, when in label-receiving position, for instance by vibration developed in the machine during an operative period and by other forces. As a result, labeling of such ampules and other small articles is rather haphazard and unsatisfactory with resultant loss in time and materials.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel supporting means for the articles to be labeled whereby the above objections will be overcome and whereby the ampules and other small articles will be firmly maintained in accurate label-receiving position regardless of vibration or other disturbing forces.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of the invention without defining its limits,

Fig. l is a perspective view of the novel support in dual form;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the support, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an example of label-applying mechanism adapted for co-operation with the novel support.

The novel support comprises a block II] of rectangular cross-section provided with longitudinal flanges II in spaced parallel relation to form a channelled upper surface as shown in Fig. 2. A supporting member I2 has its base portion fitted between the flanges I I and rests upon the bottom of the channel formed thereby. :The member I2 preferably converges upwardly and terminates in a seat I3 which may be curved as shown or otherwise shaped to conform to the shape of the articles to be accommodated thereby. In the illustrated example the seat I3 is designed to support articles I4 of circular or curved cross-section such as ampules and the like.

The block I is provided with an interior chamber I5 communicating with a nozzle I6 secured in place, for instance, by being threaded into the block Ill as illustrated in Fig. 2. The nozzle I6 serves to receive the end of a, flexible tube II whereby the chamber I5 is connected with a vac- The member I2 is so mounted between the.

flanges II that the connections between the respective vents I8 and the respective channels I9 will be substantially air-tight. To enable supporting members I2 of different types and dimensions to be used, the mounting thereof on the block I0 may be of a removable type. A 'shown, one or more set screws may be providedfor fixing the member I2 in place on the block I0.

As shown, the novel supportin means is carried by a base-plate 2| which in turn is secured upon a suitable upright bracket 22 arranged and located in the labeling machine in any convenient manner at the label-applying station thereof.

Preferably, the block III is resiliently supported on the base-plate 2| so as to yield during the application of the labels to the articles I4 to thereby avoid fracture of or injury to the latter.

In the illustrated example the block In is provided in its lower face with recesses 23 for the accommodation of springs 24'which bear against the base plate 2| and permit the block III and its associated elements to yield as the labels are applied to the articles I4. The block III is maintained in place on the base plate 2| and guided in its vertical movements by angle members 25 which are provided with slot 26 in which pins 2! carried by the block I are slidable.

As shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of supporting devices may be mounted on a common base-plate ZI with the latter carried by the bracket 22, it being understood that the multiple supporting means is located in the labeling machine at the label-applyingpoint or station thereof. In any case, whether the novel supporting means is of the multiple type or comprises a single unit it may be embodied in many difierent types of labelin machines and is particularly adapted for incorporation in labeling machines of the type disclosed in the von Hofe patent previously mentioned herein.

-As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3, the labels 28 are located in a suitable container 29 in the form of an upright stack at what may be conveniently termed the label pick-up station 'of the machine. Suitable provision may be made i ny nven i nal manner to adjust the stack upwardly for the purpose of periodicall estoring the upper end of the stack to a predetermined level, for instance, as shown in the von Hofe Patent No. 2,227,816.

The labels 28 are removed in individual succession from the upper end of the stack by means of a suction head 30 which is Supported by and vertically-adjustable upon a carriage 3|. The latter is arranged to be reciprocated on a stationary rail 32 by suitable mechanism exemplified by the rod 33 and shown in detail in my patent hereinbefore mentioned, .to carry each successive label 28 from the stack to the point of application or label-applying station at which the article I4 is supported in the seat I3 of the supporting member I2.

It will be understood that the article I4 which may be an ampule or other relatively small article is maintained in position in the seat I3 by the suction in the channel or channels I9 and chamber I5 by reason of the connection of the latter with a source of suction through the medium of the nozzle I6 and tube H.

In the operation of the mechanism, the suction head 30 is lowered at one terminus of the reciprocation of the carriage 3| to pick up a label 28 from the stack and then raised and shifted with the carriage 3| along the rail 32 to .the aforesaid point of application. At this point the suction head 30 is lowered to apply the label 28 carried thereby to the ampul or other article which is held in label-receiving position in the seat I3 by the suction effective thereat. It will be understood that the suction effective at the active surface of the suction head 30 is controlled in any conventional manner, for instance, as disclosed in the von Hofe Patent No. 2,227,816, in proper synchronism with the aforesaid operative steps to produce the desired results.

During its travel from the stack to the point of application, the label 28, carried by the suction head 30, receives a coating of adhesive, for instance, by being passed in tangential engagement with a suitably mounted adhesive-applying roller 34. It will be understood that in the return direction the suction head 30 travels at a level above the adhesive-applying roller 34 soas not to be soiled by adhesive therefrom. After the label 28, carried by the suction head 30 has been applied to the ampule, or other article I4, and left in initial adhesive contact therewith by the elevation of the suction head 3|], the application of said label to said ampule I4, or other article, may be completed in any convenient manner, for instance, as illustrated and described in the previously mentioned von Hofe patent.

During all of these operations the ampule I4, or other article, is securely held in label-receiving position in the seat I3 by the suction effective thereat. As a result the ampule I4, or other article, is incapable of being unintentionally shifted by the vibration of the mechanical parts or by any other forces which may b developing during such operative period. When the application of the label to the ampule I4, or other article, takes place the supporting member I2 and block II] with their associated elements yield downwardly against the compression of the springs 24 and thereby prevent the labelapplying pressures from fracturing or otherwise injuring the ampule I4, or other article, in labelreceiving position in the seat I 3. When the application of the label has been completed the labeled ampule I4, or other article, is removed from the seat I3 by simply exerting a removal force thereon sufficient to overcome the restraining effect of the suction developed at the seat I3. With this arrangement the developed suction is such as to hold the ampule I4, or other article, firmly in label-receiving position in the seat I3 and yet is not sufiiciently strong to require excessive forces to be exerted on the ampule I4, or other article, to remove the same from the seat I3. If desired, provision may be made for instance in the form of a foot-pedalcontrolled valve for controlling the suction effective in the channel or channels I9 so as to enable the suction to be relieved when it is desired to remove the labelled ampule M, or other article, and to restore said suction at the seat I3 for the purpose of holding the succeeding ampule I4, or other article, in place therein.

It will be understood, if a plurality of the novel supporting devices are mounted upon a single base plate 2| as shown in Fig. 1, that two containers 29 for two stacks of labels 28 will be provided in the machine and that two properly co-operating suction heads 30 will be mounted on the carriage 3| so as to operate as a single unit in the manner previously described herein.

The novel supporting means is exceedingly simple in construction and enables small articles such as the ampules I4 to be efficiently labeled in an accurate manner and without requiring any particular care or supervision on the part of the operators.

By mounting the supporting member I2 on the block I0 in such a manner as to permit the easy removal of said supporting member I2 at will, it is possible to readily substitute different types of supporting members I2 as this may be required. It will be understood that to secure the best results the seat I3 of the supporting member l2 should always be such as to properly fit and support the articles to be labeled for which it is designed. The aforesaid interchange of supporting members I2 makes this result comparatively easy .to attain.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art will readily .understand. Such variations and modifications are considered to be within the purview and scope of th claims.

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine, the combination of an upright bracket, a base-plate carried by said bracket, angle irons secured upon said base-plate and having upwardly-projecting members located in opposed spaced parallelism with each other, a vertically movable block mounted between said upwardly-projecting members and having a channeled upper surface, said :block being provided with an interior chamber connected with a source of suction and having at least one relatively reduced vent terminating at said channeled upper surface, a supporting member terminating in a seat for the accommodation of articles to be labeled, said supporting member being removably secured in the channeled upper surface of said block and having at least one channel in communication with said reduced vent and opening at said seat whereby an article to be labeledwill be maintained in said seat, by suction, against unintentional shifting, and yielding means effective on said block to enable the latter to yield under label-applying pressure and thereby prevent the latter from in juring said article.

2. In a labeling machine, supporting means for supporting articles in label receiving position, comprising a movable block having an interior chamber connected with a source of suction and provided with at least one vent, an upright supporting member removably mounted on said block and terminating in a seat for the accommodation of articles to be labeled, said supporting member having at least one channel in communication with said vent and opening at said seat whereby an article to be labeled will be maintained in said seat, by suction, against unintentional shifting, and springs efiective on said block to yieldingly oppose label-applying pressure on said article and thereby prevent said pressure from injuring the latter.

3. In a labeling machine, supporting means for supporting articles in label-receiving position, comprising a movable block having an interior chamber connected with a source of suction, a supporting member projecting upwardly from said block and provided with a seat for the accommodation of articles to be labeled, said supporting member having at least one channel open at said seat and communicating with said chamber whereby suction in th latter is effective at said seat to maintain articles in place therein, and a spring effective on said movable block to yieldingly oppose label-applying pressures on said articles to prevent injury thereto.

4. In a labeling machine, supporting means provided with a seat for accommodating highly fragile articles to be labeled, means whereby suction is made efiective at said seat for maintaining articles inplace thereon, and yielding means effective on said supporting means to yieldingly oppose label-applying pressures on said articles to prevent injury thereto.

HANS A. NEFZGER. 

